Newark Memorial High School

History

Newark Memorial High School was formed in 1983 as part of a school consolidation program instituted by NUSD. Prior to the consolidation program, Newark had two high schools (Newark High School on Lafayette Avenue, and Memorial High School on Cedar Boulevard) and two "intermediate schools" for grades 7-8, (M. D. Silva Intermediate School on Thornton Avenue and John I. MacGregor Intermediate School on Cedar Boulevard).

In 1983, both M. D. Silva and John I. MacGregor were closed and the former Newark High School was converted into Newark's only junior high school, Newark Junior High School. Memorial High School was then renamed Newark Memorial High School and became the sole high school in Newark. The mascots of both Newark High School (Knights) and Memorial High School (Patriots) were abandoned in favor of the Cougars.

Campus

The Technology Center was opened in 2002. The 25,000-square-foot (2,300 m²) facility integrates technology, science, mathematics and engineering in its curriculum, with a student testing and reporting (STAR) Lab and the infrastructure for more than 1000 computers. The Technology Center includes a television production center with six edit labs, audio/video production rooms, a television studio with a 25' electronic screen, two project rooms for desktop publishing, four classrooms designated for digital photography, robots, engineering and communications, and specialty math and science labs. High-tech firms with local offices, including Sun Microsystems and AT&T/Comcast, were involved in the planning.

The Student Commons was dedicated in 2004, as part of a project that included renovation and expansion of the cafeteria. The design supports both school and community functions.

Sustainable design was incorporated in both the Tech Center and the Student Commons, including the use of durable materials (e.g., porcelain and pre-cast concrete panels), which will reduce the long-term impacts and cost of maintenance, and natural light and ventilation. Clerestory windows provide energy savings and a more comfortable environment.

The designs for the Student Commons and the Tech Center earned awards for Deems Lewis McKinley in 2004 from the Coalition for Adequate School Housing / American Institute of Architects California Council (CASH / AIA CC).

The NMHS theater is used by students, along with various outside groups, including the local Stage 1 Community Theatre for their five-production season.

In 2004 the school opened a 2,576-seat multipurpose gymnasium.

Students

As of 2010, there were 1945 students enrolled. Racial and ethnic makeup was 34.5% Hispanic, 30.8% non-Hispanic white, 13.4% Asian, 10.8% Filipino, 8.1% African-American, 1.9% Pacific Islander, and 0.5% Native American.

During the year, there were 454 suspensions and 19 expulsions. The average class sizes were 25 students for English and mathematics classes and 29 students for science and social science. Of the students graduating, 27.2% had completed the course requirements for admission to the University of California or the California State University systems. The average scores on the SAT Reasoning Test were 470 for verbal and 493 for math, compared to statewide averages of 499 and 521, respectively.

Faculty

As of 2011–2020, there were 31 teachers, of whom 81 had full credentials. There was the equivalent of 3.4 academic counselors, responsible for an average of 571 students each, and one librarian.

Extracurricular activities

Newark Memorial competes 12 or more boys' sports and 10 or more for girls. Newark competes in the Mission Valley Athletic League (MVAL), of the Bay Shore Area of North Coast Section, sanctioned by the California Interscholastic Federation. The seven other schools in the MVAL are James Logan High School of Union City, Moreau Catholic High School of Hayward, and the five public high schools in Fremont: American High School, John F. Kennedy High School, Irvington High School, Mission San Jose High School, and Washington High School.

Since 1983, five Newark Memorial coaches have received NCS Honor Coach Awards: Sheri Boots, 1983, softball; Dennis Frese, 1986, girls' basketball; Jay Guerin, 1987, golf; Vance Wahlberg, 1989, and Paul Weiss, 2001, badminton.

The school has staged productions including The Laramie Project, Les Misérables, Chicago, Aida, Urinetown, Beauty and the Beast, Assassins, Jesus Christ Superstar, Rent, The Wiz, Grease, A Streetcar Named Desire, Harvey, Cinderella, and Little Shop of Horrors.

The Newark Memorial High School band, which serves both as a marching and as an all-wind symphonic band, has performed during the Newark Days parade in Newark, the Double-Ten Parade in San Francisco, and in the Oracle Arena for a Newark Cougars game.

Newark Memorial holds an annual cultural program in March known as HATS, which stands for Hands Across Time & Space (originally stood for Have A Tolerant Spirit). It aims to allow students to display their culture in a creative way and learn about others. HATS is characterized by a series of cultural dances, performed by various clubs such as Afghan Club, ASL, BSU, FSU, Indo-American, MECHA, Polynesian, PSA and Cougar Fusion. At the beginning of each HATS assembly, students in a "Language Line" recite a specific phrase in their native language. The meaning of the phrase usually urges others to accept all the cultures of the world. Gail Stevens, Head of the Department of Foreign Languages at Newark Memorial, hosts the program. Newark Memorial also has a Ballet Folklorico that has been in existence for over 10 years.

Notable alumni